Bertram Bruestle spent most of his childhood living in Lyme, Connecticut during the warmer months of the year and New York City during the colder months. In Lyme, he developed an intense love for nature and throughout his life, Bruestle photographed, filmed, collected and catalogued a wide variety of plants and animals. In the city, much of his time was divided between visiting the Museum of Natural History and visiting a variety of art-related events, both of which influenced his life's work.

Bertram Bruestle was very close to his father, George M. Bruestle, one of the most beloved members of the Lyme Art Colony with many friendships and affiliations in New York. This offered the son the distinct advantage of learning from all of h...